Runa and Mika took a step forward onto the cold flagstones of the courtyard, and their huge smiles of professional pride were not long in coming.
Neither of them cared in the slightest about the freezing wind blowing from the northern trench or the trail of dust still floating on the horizon after the mountain's disappearance. Their gaze was fixed on Ryan, with that spark of enthusiasm typical of two artisans who had spent entire nights locked away among furnaces and alchemy tables until they hit the nail on the head.
Runa was the first to open her mouth, planting her feet firmly and resting a soot-stained fist on her hip.
"That's right, brat, we've finally created a working prototype of your grimoire," Runa said with total confidence, puffing out her chest.
